Genital Herpes Quiz
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Groin pain
Genital ulcer
Body aches
Skin rashes
Sores or ulcers
Burning when peeing
Painful urination
Swollen lymph nodes in the groin
Body aches no fever
Fever and chills
Skin irritation
Dysuria
Not seeing your symptoms? No worries!
What is Genital Herpes?
This is a sexually transmitted disease caused by the Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV). It causes small, painful blisters on the private parts.
Typical Symptoms of Genital Herpes
- Pain in my penis
- Pain or discomfort in the genital area
- Lump or bump on the penis
- Ulcers in the genital area
- Burning or painful urination with reduced urine volume
- Swollen lymph nodes or lumps in the neck, armpits, groin, or behind the ears
- Pain or burning during urination
- Bumps or swellings around the vulva/vagina
Diagnostic Questions for Genital Herpes
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this disease:
- Do you have pain in your penis?
- Are you experiencing pain or discomfort in your genital area?
- Do you feel any lumps on your penis?
- Do you have any ulcers in your genital area?
- Have you experienced burning or painful urination along with a decrease in urine volume?
Treatment of Genital Herpes
Although there is no cure for genital herpes, antivirals can help shorten recovery time. This can be administered through creams or oral medication.
Reviewed By:
Scott Nass, MD, MPA, FAAFP, AAHIVS (Primary Care)
Dr. Nass received dual medical degrees from the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Charles R. Drew University in Medicine and Science. He completed Family Medicine residency at Ventura County Medical Center with subsequent fellowships at Ventura, University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, George Washington University, and University of California-Irvine. He holds faculty appointments at Keck School of Medicine of USC, Loma Linda University School of Medicine, and Western University of Health Sciences.
Yukiko Ueda, MD (Dermatology)
Dr. Ueda graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine and trained at the University of Tokyo Medical School. She is currently a clinical assistant professor at the Department of Dermatology, Jichi Medical University, and holds several posts in the dermatology departments at Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Komagome Hospital, University of Tokyo, and the Medical Center of Japan Red Cross Society.
Content updated on Dec 6, 2024
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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How Ubie Can Help You
With a free 3-min Genital Herpes quiz, powered by Ubie's AI and doctors, find possible causes of your symptoms.
This questionnaire is customized to your situation and symptoms, including the following personal information:
Biological Sex - helps us provide relevant suggestions for male vs. female conditions.
Age - adjusts our guidance based on any age-related health factors.
History - considers past illnesses, surgeries, family history, and lifestyle choices.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Your personal report will tell you
✔ When to see a doctor
✔︎ What causes your symptoms
✔︎ Treatment information etc.
People with similar symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
- Penis pain
- Pain around the vulva or vagina
- Penis hurts
- Lump on penile shaft
- Penis pain during sexual intercourse
- Pain in the genital area
- Painful intercourse
- Genital ulcers (private parts)
- Penile fracture
- Itchy bump on penis
- Vaginal pain
- Penile soreness
- Itching, burning or throbbing sensation on the penis
- Pain during intercourse
- Lump on penis head
See full list
User Testimonials for Genital Herpes
Female, in 20s
I loved how quick it was and the ease of understanding from the information it provided. Giving the warning signs to look out for was a huge bonus!
(Apr 24, 2024)
Female, in 30s
Compared to the WebMD Symptom Checker that I used, Ubie was very easy to use. I don't feel like anything was missing in regard to symptoms, and the results were easy to understand, too!
(Apr 21, 2024)
Female, 40s
I had a lump in the space between the genitals and anus. I did a general Google search and looked at some medical websites but couldn't find any information that I was looking for, so I came to the Ubie website. I liked that the output listed several conditons, clearly showing which of my stated symptoms line up with those conditons and which symptoms I do not have for each!
(Apr 19, 2024)
Symptoms Related to Genital Herpes
Diseases Related to Genital Herpes
FAQs
Q.
Is it a rash? Why your skin is reacting and the early stage HSV-2 medical steps to take.
A.
There are several key differences to consider between a simple genital rash and early HSV-2. Painful, grouped blisters with tingling or burning that begin 2 to 12 days after exposure, sometimes with painful urination or mild flu-like symptoms, suggest early HSV-2, while an irritant rash is typically flat, itchier than painful, and improves quickly once triggers like friction, shaving, or new products are removed. Early steps include pausing sexual activity, not picking lesions, and seeing a clinician promptly for swab PCR testing and early antivirals, with urgent care if severe pain, trouble urinating, high fever, severe headache, stiff neck, or during pregnancy. Important nuances, look-alikes, and testing timing that could change your next steps are explained below.
References:
* Kardaun, S. H. A., et al. "Approach to a patient with a rash." *J Am Acad Dermatol*, vol. 76, no. 5, May 2017, pp. 981–997. doi:10.1016/j.jaad.2016.08.001. PMID: 27773539.
* Workowski, K. A., et al. "Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Infections: Clinical Manifestations, Diagnosis, and Management." *Infect Dis Clin North Am*, vol. 37, no. 4, Dec. 2023, pp. 673–693. doi:10.1016/j.idc.2023.08.006. PMID: 37940259.
* Mark, J., and J. Ray. "Genital Herpes." *StatPearls*, NCBI Bookshelf, 8 Aug. 2023. PMID: 29261901.
* Fata, S., and R. Boggon. "Genital herpes simplex virus infection: an overview." *Clin Exp Dermatol*, vol. 44, no. 6, Aug. 2019, pp. 612–620. doi:10.1111/ced.13840. PMID: 30588691.
* Gross, G., and H. Schöfer. "Management of genital herpes simplex virus infection." *Curr Opin Infect Dis*, vol. 34, no. 1, Feb. 2021, pp. 52–59. doi:10.1097/QCO.0000000000000727. PMID: 33369400.
Q.
Is it Genital Herpes? Why Your Skin is Reacting & Medically Approved Next Steps
A.
Genital herpes is common, and while classic signs include painful grouped fluid-filled blisters, tingling before sores, and flu-like symptoms with a first outbreak, many look-alikes like ingrown hairs, razor burn, yeast infections, contact dermatitis, and folliculitis are also common. There are several factors to consider, see below to understand more. Next steps include prompt medical evaluation with swab testing of fresh sores and blood tests when needed, starting antivirals to shorten outbreaks and reduce transmission, avoiding sex until lesions heal, using condoms for partial protection, and seeking urgent care for severe symptoms or if pregnant or immunocompromised, with more details below.
References:
* Workowski KA, Bachmann LH, Chan PA, Johnston CM, Muzny PB, Reno RK, Schmidt MA, Secura SM. Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Infections. MMWR Recomm Rep. 2021 Jul 23;70(RR-4):1-167. doi: 10.15585/mmwr.rr7004a1. PMID: 34292994.
* Johnson RM, Johnson AL, Nguyen C, Jones C, Jallal B, Smith E, Zola P. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2): New Perspectives on Pathogenesis, Treatment, and Prevention. Viruses. 2023 Jul 19;15(7):1564. doi: 10.3390/v15071564. PMID: 37515089; PMCID: PMC10386241.
* Karger AB, Kim H, Choi JY, Lee JS, Choi H, Hwang Y, Choi Y, Kim E. Herpes Simplex Virus: Pathogenesis and Treatment Strategies. Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Jul 26;24(15):12011. doi: 10.3390/ijms241512011. PMID: 37568545; PMCID: PMC10431350.
* Singh S, Gupta R, Singh M, Kaur M, Kulkarni V. Genital Ulcers: Diagnosis and Management. Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2021 Jan-Jun;42(1):1-10. doi: 10.4103/ijstd.IJSTD_31_20. Epub 2021 May 26. PMID: 34188370; PMCID: PMC8212170.
* Gupta R, Gangwar M, Goel A, Kumar M, Gautam A, Kaur P. Antivirals for Herpes Simplex Virus: A Review. J Basic Clin Physiol Pharmacol. 2021 Sep 7;32(5):543-556. doi: 10.1515/jbcpp-2020-0294. PMID: 34118311.
Q.
Persistent Stinging? Why Your Skin is Flaring & Medically Approved Genital Herpes Next Steps
A.
Persistent genital stinging, burning, or tingling often points to common and manageable genital herpes, especially if it recurs or comes before small blisters, though yeast infections, UTIs, contact dermatitis, and other STIs can cause similar symptoms. Medically approved next steps include prompt evaluation and PCR swab testing when sores are present, starting episodic or daily suppressive antiviral therapy, home pain relief, safer sex to protect partners, and urgent care if there is severe pain, trouble urinating, high fever, pregnancy, or a weakened immune system. There are several factors to consider; see below to understand what sores look like, common triggers, how long outbreaks last, ways to reduce future flares, and how to choose the right treatment, since these details can meaningfully affect your next steps.
References:
* Ganesan P, Singh S. Genital Herpes Simplex Virus Infection: An Update. Curr Infect Dis Rep. 2022 Jun;24(6):95-103. doi: 10.1007/s11908-022-00788-2. Epub 2022 Apr 28. PMID: 35501815.
* Workowski KA, et al. Genital Herpes: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management. Sex Transm Dis. 2018 Sep;45(9S Suppl 2):S169-S175. doi: 10.1097/OLQ.0000000000000854. PMID: 30125867.
* El Khoury C, et al. Antiviral Therapy for Genital Herpes: An Update. Infect Dis Clin North Am. 2018 Dec;32(4):817-831. doi: 10.1016/j.idc.2018.06.002. PMID: 30372221.
* Johnston C, et al. Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 Immunobiology and Immunotherapeutic Strategies. Viruses. 2022 Jan 10;14(1):145. doi: 10.3390/v14010145. PMID: 35056627; PMCID: PMC8781682.
* Singh R, et al. Updates in the Management of Herpes Simplex Virus Infections. Dermatol Clin. 2021 Jul;39(3):367-377. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2021.03.003. PMID: 34185150.
Q.
How can I tell the difference between chapped lips and a cold sore?
A.
There are several factors to consider to tell chapped lips from a cold sore: chapped lips develop gradually with dryness, flaking, and small cracks (no fluid-filled blisters) and improve with moisturizers, while cold sores (HSV-1) start with tingling then form painful, clustered blisters that weep and crust over 7–14 days and are contagious. For triggers, best treatments, prevention tips, and when to seek care, see the complete guidance below.
References:
Arduino PG, & Porter SR. (2008). Herpes labialis. Clin Dermatol, 18313560.
European Association for the Study of the Liver. (2018). EASL clinical practice guidelines for the management of patients… Journal of Hepatology, 30092170.
Moreau R, Jalan R, Gines P, et al. (2013). Acute-on-chronic liver failure is a distinct syndrome that… Gastroenterology, 23502378.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
Vestergaard T. [Genital herpes]. Ugeskr Laeger. 2018 May 14;180(20):V01180024. Danish. PMID: 29798750.
https://ugeskriftet.dk/videnskab/genital-herpesGupta R, Warren T, Wald A. Genital herpes. Lancet. 2007 Dec 22;370(9605):2127-37. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61908-4. PMID: 18156035.
https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(07)61908-4/fulltextGarland SM, Steben M. Genital herpes. Best Pract Res Clin Obstet Gynaecol. 2014 Oct;28(7):1098-110. doi: 10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2014.07.015. Epub 2014 Aug 4. PMID: 25153069.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1521693414001394?via%3DihubManagement of Genital Herpes in Pregnancy: ACOG Practice Bulletinacog Practice Bulletin, Number 220. Obstet Gynecol. 2020 May;135(5):e193-e202. doi: 10.1097/AOG.0000000000003840. PMID: 32332414.
https://journals.lww.com/greenjournal/Abstract/2020/05000/Management_of_Genital_Herpes_in_Pregnancy__ACOG.53.aspx